1st Guards Motor Rifle Division
| 1st Rifle Division (1918 - 1920)? 1st Moscow Rifle Division (c.1926-27 - 1940) 1st Moscow Motor Rifle Division (1940 - 1941) 1st Guards Moscow Motor Rifle Division (1941 - 1943) 1st Guards Moscow Rifle Division (1943 - 1957) 1st Guards Moscow Motor Rifle Division (1957 - 2002) |
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|---|---|
| Active | 1918 - 1920, 1926 - 2002 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union (1918 - 1920, 1926 - 1991) Russia (1991 - 2002) |
| Branch |
 Red Army (1918 - 1920, 1926 - 1991)Russian Ground Forces (1991 - 2002) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | 11th Guards Army (1945 - 1998) |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 1st Guards Prolitariat Moscow-Minsk Order of Lenin, twice Red Banner Orders of Suvorov (II) and Kutuzov (II) Motor Rifle Division (Russian: 1-я гвардейская мотострелковая Пролетарская Московско-Минская ордена Ленина, дважды Краснознаменная, орденов Суворова и Кутузова дивизия (2-е формирование)) was a division of the Red Army and Russian Ground Forces active from c.1918 to 2002.
The division was first formed at Petrograd, November 1918. It fought around Olonets with the 6th and 7th armies from November 1918 into 1920. Defended the Aleksandrovsk-Melitopol railroad line on the Southern Front in August 1920. Awarded the Order of the Red Banner in October 1920. Reorganized as a brigade of the 15th Rifle Division in November 1920.
It was then re-formed either in December 1924 or at the beginning of 1927 in the Moscow Military District, gaining the title of the "1st Moscow Proletariat Red Banner Rifle Division". Pavel Batov was a battalion and then regiment commander in the division in the late 1920s. In August 1939 it raised cadres for 115th and 126th rifle divisions.
In the mid 1930s the 1st Division was also the first to use modern headgear and weapons for the rising WPRA.
It was re-raised from its single remaining regiment in September 1939 (second formation), and by January 1940 was re-formed as the 1st Moscow Motor Rifle Division. Training was complete 7 June 1940, and 1st Moscow Motor Rifle Division took part in Soviet occupation of the Baltic states since 15 June 1940, advancing from base in Polotsk and forward positions at to Panevėžys 16 June 1940. After a month-long garrison duty in Panevėžys and 2-month long garrisoning of Daugavpils, the 1st Moscow Motor Rifle Division was returned to Russia. For the actions during Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, the 6th motorized rifle regiment was awarded Order of the Red Star 22 February 1941.
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